Page 39 of Her Alien Prince
Commander Li-aq spoke with a sneer of satisfaction on his lips, "Queen Kai has no intention of releasing her hold on you until you've ruined things with Queen Mab, that's what the hive is calling her for they wish to hear her in their hearts. You thought I couldn't see what she was, what you were hiding from the hive? It's one thing to seek an estreld queen and keep her to yourself, but you lied to us all trying to keep a true Krelis Queen to yourself.
"You're lucky all I did was report you to Queen Kai, instead of telling the hive what you were up to. You'd have a different kind of greeting, and I think Queen Mab would not have been pleased with losing her favorite mate. Though," he paused to tap my chin with his palm like I was a fresh spawn out of the kantos, "don't get used to being first mate. I plan on replacing you soon enough when she sees I can give her pleasure, fill her kantos with spawn, and accept any mate she chooses with grace. Enjoy the high of the queen's attentions, Trenton, and by that, I mean Queen's Kai's attentions."
I blinked at him, his words barely registering. A dull throb at the back of my mind begged for attention, and I tried to reach for it, only for it to disappear from my grasp. It was as if this light existed in my mind that fluttered away every time I approached. What a lovely little thing, I thought, as my finger grazed it sending jolts through my horns that made my wings itch to fly. I'll catch you yet, I grinned to myself, hearing Commander Li-aq scoff in disgust didn't deter me from my goals.
You will be mine, you elusive spark. It called to me, teasing, only to be yanked away.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mabel
TRENT WAS ACTINGstrange, but really, what did I actually know about him other than how great his fingers felt inside of me? Sure, I was attracted to him. And yes, my insides melted at the sight of all his firm muscles, chiseled jawline, and that bulge in his pants that torched any semblance of a normal thought from my brain.
I should be focusing on making sure Luan was safe, and how I apparently placed myself in harm's way by thinking the Krelis warships would be deployed to protect Estreldez. Simply trusting that Trent wanted the same things as me was my first mistake. He had been so convincing. No, I was distracted with pretty words of him feeling my soul when he had simply been feeling between my sensitive folds. How stupid could I be?
As soon as we stepped foot on Krelis, he changed. He got me on the planet, and now he was done with me, or at least he didn't want to take me to Kai Mountain anymore. I'd learned from Commander Li-aq that it's where the temple of Goddess Lenkal was, and it's where bonded mates go to complete their psychic connection with each other. As a queen of the hive, I had no need to go to the mountain unless I wished to commune with Goddess Lenkal, since I would already be psychically connected with each krelin's oath to serve, making me a conduit for the whole hive.
I couldn't even imagine.
Having the whole hive in my mind? Was that how that worked?
When we arrived at the hive, it wasn't what I had expected. It was the mountain itself, and there was this silky film covering the rock that made it glow and sparkle, not exactly as the mountain I dreamed about, but it was huge, and structured like each section was created separately and then melded together in an intricate pattern that reached in all directions. It wasn't solid looking, but also not transparent either. Tunnels and tubular rooms spanned in a way that seemed haphazard, and yet beautiful.
Li-aq explained, "The hive was created by every warrior before us. Each krelin is given a section to create or repair as they please, and over many centuries it became what it is today. You may choose any pod you wish, and should you like to make adjustments, they can be arranged."
The walls moved like they were alive, breathing as I breathed, and I entered a room filled with stones I recognized from Estreldez. They've decorated the walls of this large, tubed space with jewels, and they were placed like decorations, even ones estrelds would never consider as anything other than sustenance. It was breathtaking, and the jewels glowed in a wave with the movement of the walls. Lucky, the floors did not fluctuate, or I might have been queasy. The deeper we went into the hive, the more structure there was. And we reached the center of the hive, which was a large crater sinking deep into the earth, and rising high into the clouds. I stopped and stared.
Krelin warriors flew above the opening, and others milled about on different levels of the hive, their shadows seen through the filmy membrane of rooms, or peering over balconies so high, I lost my breath. With the light filtering down through the open oculus of the self-made cave structure, the tunnels and pods appeared like bronzed gold, twinkling and grand. There was a pollen dust in the air that turned red with my movement through the space.
I was beginning to think Trent didn't have a voice, though neither did I in that moment, before he finally spoke, "This is the heart of the hive. This is where you will sway the hearts of every warrior with your song."
"Like singing?" I cringed. If they expected me to sing, they would be in for a rude awakening about all their hopes and dreams of a new queen. I did not have a melodic voice.
He chuckled, and I loved that sound. He should be the one singing to his hive for their hearts… He had mine. Why was it so easy to forget that he had lied to me about wanting to be mates? When he stood there gazing out at something like this with awe, when all I felt was terror at how real it was being asked to be queen over so many krelins... it was overwhelming, and I didn't think I could do it. He made it seem like this would be easy, and everyone would love me. Everyone but him.
"Not literal singing," he assured. "From here your kan can connect with the hive and create a psychic link with them. You'll show them how much you care, and they will trust you with their lives like I do with mine."
I punched him in the arm, he didn't even flinch from the contact. "You don't have to charm me anymore, Trent. I'm here already, and I don't have much of a choice but to go to this party the queen is throwing. Even if you're a liar, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I left, and your hive decided to blame you, performing some kind of sacrificial ritual."
Not sure why I cared, when he obviously didn't care if I took on a whole harem of mates, but I didn't want him to die. I'd go to this party, pretend to choose some mates, become their queen or whatever, then use my influence to get the fuck out of here. At least then, I could make sure the Krelis warships were actually doing what Trent said they were going to do. Then find Luan.
As I stood before the busy, beautifully terrifying, sight of the mecca of the hive, my skin prickled like the air was electrified. Reaching up, I rubbed at my forehead, my loh burned... No, were they kan now?
"Looks like your kan are coming in nicely," Commander Li-aq complimented. "Most female warriors kan stay rooted beneath their skin, it's a sign of a queen to have them grow like they are doing now."
"Are you saying no female krelins have kan, or wings?" So, all of the krelins flying right now were male?
"Ah, you misunderstand. All krelins have kan, female’s kan never break the skin unless they grow. Think of it the same as our chests, they grow with ducts for spawn for females, and males do not. As for the wings, all females are born with them, but once they sprout are usually much too frail for flying and end up being molted from their backs before they are even seven cycles old."
How horrifying, I thought. My hand instinctively reached for my back to make sure my wings were still there. They expanded out, stretching, and an eerie silence filled the heart of the hive. Only a soft buzz of wings hovering in mid-air remained. Trent turned to truly look at me since we landed on Krelis. His golden eyes glowed, and I squirmed under the attention, even Commander Li-aq remained quiet. Was I supposed to speak?
"Uh," I began awkwardly. I winced, and lifted a hand with a ridiculous wave, while averting my eyes from the stares.
Whispers filled my ears, and they grew louder.
"That's her," some said in hushed speculation.
"She's so small."
